Systems and methods for safe medicament transport

Abstract

A medicament transport system includes a syringe adapter assembly; and a vial adapter assembly including a base defining an opening having a seal member disposed therewithin, a stem extending from the base and defining a lumen therethrough and an opening through a wall thereof, a needle shuttle valve slidably disposed within the lumen of the stem and supporting a transfer needle and a vacuum needle; and a vacuum cup slidably supported on the stem, wherein a vacuum chamber is defined in the space between the base, the stem and the vacuum cup. The medicament transport system includes a condition where the transfer needle and the vacuum needles penetrate the seal member of the vial adapter assembly, and the vacuum cup is moved to draw a vacuum through the vacuum needle. An automation system is provided that utilizes a medicament transport system for forming a medicament solution from a liquid/non-liquid solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of forming a liquid solution from a vial containing a non-liquid material, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a medicament transport system comprising:
 a syringe adapter assembly fluidly connectable to a first container, the syringe adapter assembly including: 
 a body portion defining a lumen therethrough; and 
 a seal member connected to a distal end of the body portion and extending across the lumen thereof; and 
 
 a vial adapter assembly connectable to a neck of the vial and configured to receive the body portion of the syringe adapter assembly, the vial adapter assembly including:
 a base having at least one retainer configured to engage the neck of the vial, the base defining an opening having a seal member disposed therewithin; 
 a stem extending from the base, the stem defining a lumen therethrough and being in operative communication with the opening of the base, the stem defining an opening through a wall thereof; 
 a needle shuttle valve slidably disposed within the lumen of the stem, the needle shuttle valve forming a fluid tight seal with the stem, the needle shuttle valve supporting a transfer needle such that the transfer needle extends from a first and a second end thereof and supporting a vacuum needle such that the vacuum needle extends from the first end of the needle shuttle valve; and 
 a vacuum cup slidably supported on the stem, the vacuum cup being in fluid tight contact with the stem and with the base, wherein a vacuum chamber is defined in the space between the base, the stem and the vacuum cup, the vacuum chamber being in fluid communication with the lumen of the stem through the opening formed in the wall of the stem; 
 
 connecting the vial containing the non-liquid material to the base of the vial adapter assembly; 
 fluidly connecting a first container having a fluid the body portion of the syringe adapter sleeve; and 
 actuating the syringe adapter sleeve to translate the body portion of the syringe adapter assembly into the stem of the vial adapter sleeve, wherein: 
 the needle shuttle valve is caused to be translated relative to the stem of the vial adapter assembly such that:
 a distal end of each of the transfer needle and the vacuum needle are inserted into the vial; 
 the first container is brought into fluid communication with the vial through the transfer needle; and 
 a vacuum is drawn from the vial through the vacuum needle by a movement of the vacuum cup from the advanced position to the proximal position to thereby enlarge the vacuum chamber.